Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41681933›Full record

ArticleCancers2026

Dimensional Priming Reprograms Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells to Promote Pancreatic Cancer Progression.

Bo Han, Zhi Yang, Shuqing Zhao, Thomas Schmittgen, Jamel Ali, Ba Xuan Hoang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Bo HanDepartments of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1458-4265
Zhi YangDepartments of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Shuqing ZhaoDepartments of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Thomas SchmittgenCollege of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Jamel AliDepartment of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA.
Ba Xuan HoangDepartments of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2712-9747

Funding

Tissue Modeling & Drug Development Shared Resources CoreU54CA233444 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI Chanita A. Hughes-Halbert, Tianze Jiao · 2018 to 2026
$12.1M
Tissue Modeling CoreU54CA233465 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI JOYCE M RICHEY · 2018 to 2026
$11.9M
Tissue Modeling CoreU54CA233396 · NCI · FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIV · PI Romonia Renee REAMS · 2018 to 2026
$9.8M
NCI NIH HHS U54 CA233396NCI NIH HHS U54CA233396NCI NIH HHS U54 CA233444NCI NIH HHS U54CA233444NCI NIH HHS U54 CA233465NCI NIH HHS U54CA233465
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a central role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression, yet how mechanical cues shape stromal cell behavior remains poorly defined. Here, we investigate how dimensional priming of adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) alters their immunomodulatory functions and subsequent impact on PDAC growth.

methodsADSCs were cultured under two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) conditions and evaluated using in vitro co-culture systems with PDAC organoids and in vivo xenograft models. Stromal phenotype, cytokine secretion, tumor growth, invasion, and immune cell infiltration were assessed.

resultsADSCs cultured in three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels exhibited reduced Caveolin-1 (CAV-1) expression and reprogramming toward a stress-adapted, CAF-like phenotype compared with two-dimensional (2D) cultures. In vitro, 2D-primed ADSCs constrained PDAC organoid growth, increased MMP-2 activity, and required direct cell-cell contact to suppress tumor viability. By contrast, 3D-primed ADSCs preserved organoid structure but markedly enhanced tumor cell migration through soluble factors, accompanied by increased IL-6 and TNF-α and reduced IL-10 secretion during co-culture. In vivo, 3D-primed ADSCs promoted the largest tumors with aggressive invasion and loss of Col-Tgel containment associated with tumor expansion, whereas 2D-primed ADSCs suppressed tumor growth and maintained gel boundaries. Immunohistochemistry confirmed elevated Ki-67 in tumors containing 3D-primed ADSCs, while macrophage infiltration (F4/80

conclusionsDimensional priming fundamentally reprograms ADSC phenotype and alters their stromal-immune interactions, generating a tumor-permissive state that accelerates PDAC progression. These findings identify mechanical cues as critical regulators of stromal plasticity and highlight dimensional priming as a potentially targetable axis within the PDAC microenvironment.

Indexed as

3D culture systemsadipose-derived stromal cellsdimensional primingmatrix mechanicsPDACstromal plasticity

Identifiers

PMID41681933
PMCPMC12896594

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.